We can fix your hair surgery scar

Been and got yourself a FUT hair transplant – but worried about the scar left on the back of your head? Fear not – we can fix that.

What is FUT?

Follicular Unit Transplant – more commonly known as Strip Technique – is a relatively older method of hair transplantation, much older than the more commonly used FUE hair transplant that we specialise in.

During this method of hair transplantation, a large area of skin is harvested from the donor area – typically at the back of the head, although sometimes the sides are used. This donor skin is then dissected to remove excess skin and separate the follicles into groups of 1-4 hairs. The surgeon is careful to keep all the other parts of the follicular units – such as the sebaceous glands, nerves and occasional fine vellus hairs.

These follicles are then grafted onto the recipient section – typically the top or front of the head.

Hair surgery scars

FUT works by harvesting a large chunk of skin that contains hairs from the donor area of the scalp – typically the back or sides of the head – in order to obtain hair follicles to work with.

This, unfortunately, means that you will be left with a scar wherever the skin is harvested from. This scar, neatly nestled amongst all your new hair, can look very obvious and prominent.

Your scar can also take several weeks to heal, as – depending on the size of the transplant required – it can be a very large piece of skin that is required to get enough donor follicles to complete the transplant.

FUT scar repair

If you’re stuck with a large FUT hair transplant scar and would like it repaired, however, do not worry. There are plenty of ways that your scar can be repaired!

Excision of the old scar

One way to deal with the old scar that has resulted from FUT/Strip transplant surgery is to excise it in a W shape. The edges of the wound are appropriately mobilised and the wound is stitched, layer-by-layer, from the deeper layers to the more superficial ones.

This technique is used for scars of medium to large width, but only if the surrounding skin is sufficiently elasticated. However, this technique is only used to lessen the appearance of the scar – and will not totally eliminate it.

Using FUE for scar repair

Another – more common – method of repairing FUT/Strip transplant scars is using FUE. By its nature, FUE is minimally invasive, and has a host of other benefits, such as speedy recovery, minimal pain and a rapid return to work.

In this technique, new hair follicles are actually implanted into the scar itself. This does, however, require that there is adequate blood supply to the scar itself – if there is not, the hairs will not be able to function and will die.

The scar restoration is performed in a completely natural way and – with the FUE method – you can expect to see the hair grow in a way that replicates the natural hair pattern.

At the Harley Street Hair Clinic, FUE scar repair is one of the treatments that we specialise in. Our surgeons have years of experience carrying out this kind of procedure and, unlike in other clinics, you will meet with your surgeon to discuss your exact treatment.